The Holiday Guide to Staying Healthy

By: Monique Bienvenue; Cal Ag Today Communications Manager 

With cookies, pastries and elaborate meals surrounding you this holiday season, it’s extremely easy to indulge in unhealthy meals. Thanks the American Heart Association, however, there are few ways to indulge in your favorite holiday dishes while staying on track. Here’s how:

Keep an eye out for sodium:

  • Look at the labels! Believe it or not, your favorite breads and canned soup may contain high levels of sodium, so make sure to look at the food labels before making a purchase.
  • Find substitutes: Instead of adding salt to your meal, try using spices and herbs such as rosemary and cloves.
  • Add veggies: Fresh vegetables are sure to add flavor to your meal without having to add salt!

Defeat the turkey:

  • Choose the white meat: White meat has less fat and less calories than dark meat!
  • Remove the skin: Although tasty, the skin contains a large amount of fat
  • Limit the gravy: Gravy can be the culprit when watching your calories, be sure to limit the amount you put on your meal.

Desserts, desserts, desserts:

  • Share the goodness: Instead of indulging in one full serving of cake or pie, split it with a friend or family member. You’ll thank yourself at the end of the day.
  • Sample: Take a bite of a cookie, and eat the corner of piece of cake. The small bites you take will have less fat and calories than one full serving of something else.

For information on how to stay healthy this holiday season, click on the link below.

http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@fc/documents/downloadable/ucm_455757.pdf